Improvement in steam heaters



uw. M. FULLER.

Steam-Heaters. NO.145,167. Patented Dec.2,1 873.

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i i Y i UNITED STATES WILLARD M. FULLER, or NEW YORK, N. r.

PATENT CEEIGE,

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM HEATERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 145,167. dated December 1873; application filed November 11, 1873.

vTo all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLARD n. FULLER, of NewYork, in the county of N ew York and State of New York, have invented certain new and' useful Improvements in Process for Heating; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which forma part of this speciiication.

The nature of my invention consists in the 'process of regulating the pressure of steam by the quantity of water in the boiler, and adjusting the boiler and pipes with the water, so that any desired pressure may be obtained, and a uniformity maintained by a measured quantity of water. y

In the accompanying drawing, which is a vertical section of an apparatus embodying my invention, A represents any suitable stove or furnace surrounding or heating the boiler. Bis the boiler; C, steam-pipe; D, return-pipe; lg), water-trap; F, any suitable radiator; Gr', smoke-flue; and H, grate. a a are perforations through the top of that portion of the return-pipe which is within the boiler, and b is plug for admitting Water. The boiler B is made of boiler-iron, and for one thousand feet ot' inch pipes I make it one foot in diameter and three inches deep; and I use about the same relative proportions in varying for a greater or less length of pipe, or in varying diameter ot' the pipes, the object being to establish a certain degree of pressure when the water in the boiler is all converted into steam, which said pressure can be determined by the ordinary rules for computing the volume of steam from a given quantity of water at the desired pressure.

I find, however, from actual experiment, that, owing to the large exposure of pipe, and the retarding of the iiow of the water of con-l densation by the back pressure, this appa ratus falls about thirty-three per cent. below the tables given for the relative proportions of water and steam at a given pressure.

With a boiler of the capacity named, and one thousand feet ot' inch pipes, 011e gallon ot water will, when converted into steam, maintain a pressure Ot' about ten pounds on the steam-gaga The addition of one pint of water will raise the pressure to about iifteen pounds; and, as the water in the boiler, at the highest point required, is all converted into steam, it is impossible to increase the pressure by the, further application ot' heat to the boiler.

The water of condensation returns by the pipe D, and iiows out through the small openings or perforations a a, the inner end being closed, and, as it trickles over the pipe, or comes in contact with the boiler, it is instantly converted into steam, and the uniform press ure is thereby maintained.

Outside of the stove or furnace I apply a trap, E, which is made in form of an inverted siphon, and remains iilled with water up to the level of the peribrations a a. This gives a proper direction to the steam in starting, and keeps the circulation uniform.

The heater or radiator F may be made et' any desired form, and the pipes C D may be connected with those now in colnmon use; and, by the use of suitable branch pipes, any de- 4`sired number of heaters or radiators may be attached and, when more than one is attached,

` each should be provided with valves to cut ott' and retain the steam and water of condensa tion in the radiator. Otherwise, if any considerable number were shut oi, an undue proportion of water would How to the boiler; but, when cut ott' at both ends, the condensed steam and water are kept out of the circulation; and,

when turned on, the condensed water is read,

1nitted,so that the pressure remains the same, whether there are few or many of the radiators in operation, and the boiler has been supplied for the largest number.

To iill the boiler, the'plug Z in pipe E is unscrewed, and afunnel inserted, when the desired quantity is poured in. To raise the temperature, all that is required is to turn in a little more water, and to diminish it, let a littie out. By this mode of regulating the pressure and temperature, the apparatus can be adljusted to either mild or cold weather without a check-valve may be used in its paee for starting the pressure and circulation; but I prefer the trap, as shown, as by its use I dispense with all valves, and produce an apparatus with conned water and steam continually circulating withoutbreak or check, which cannot be exploded or overheated so as to produce any injurious effects, and one which can be graduated by the quantity of water used, to produce and maintain a uniform pressure and temperature at any desired degree.

It will be obvious that, for the purpose vof incasing and heating the boiler, a small stove or furnace, which may be placed in any of the lower rooms, can be used for heating an entire building, whether large or small, with the advantage, in its use, of a great saving of fuel, and a saving in the cost of skilled labor, as any ordinaryT laborer or servant can keep itin operation with safety, from the fact that there are no injurious results in case the apparatus is allowed to become perfectly dry, and that water can only be put in when itis cold.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The process of heating by steam, substantially as herein described, the steam being forced, through a pipe or series of pipes, through a building, and, when condensed, returning through a perforated return-pipe extending nearly across the generator near its top, forming a spray falling in the generator, and kept in constant circulation through the building without an additional supply of water, and without the use of Valves, for the purpose specified. Y t

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix 1ny signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLARD M. FULLER.

Witnesses:

J AMES L. RAYMOND, XVM. L. RAYMOND. 

